Home • Top Things to Do in Notting Hill London: The Ultimate Guide
Beneath the pastel facades of modern-day Notting Hill lies a defiant history of pig farmers and pioneers who transformed a former slum into a global icon. From the ashes of the notorious “Potteries and Piggeries” in the mid-19th century, Notting Hill has risen to boast some of the city’s most expensive real estate and some of the most instantly recognisable locations on the planet. Once shaped by vibrant Caribbean roots in the mid-20th century and bohemian artists since the 19th century, the area exploded into global fame with Notting Hill, the 1999 romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The film depicted the area as having a glossy, idyllic charm, and this captivated global audiences. It eventually became one of the highest-grossing British films of its time. Today, Notting Hill’s colourful houses line streets filled with quirky antique shops, memorable landmarks, and an irresistible mix of Portobello Road’s famous street food vendors, tucked beside multi-million-pound Victorian homes. For anyone wondering what things to do in West London look like at their very best, this neighbourhood is the answer.
As the area is known colloquially for the Portobello Road Market, it’s impossible to visit this neighbourhood without at least walking along the iconic mile-long street. Notably, there are several markets that have been trading along Portobello Road since the 1860s. While the street market operates in some capacity nearly every day of the week, Fridays and Saturdays really pack in the punters. People visiting Portobello on Saturdays tend to find it the busiest, with traders opening the main antiques section by around 9.00 am.
Portobello Road Market opening times are generally Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 7 pm, though individual trader hours may vary. On Sundays, a smaller fashion market operates under the Westway. On Saturdays, the street between Chepstow Villas and Westbourne Grove transforms into one of the world’s largest antique markets, with the Saturday Portobello Road antiques section drawing collectors from across the globe. Stalls line the street selling anything from silver pocket watches to vintage books, original paintings, and mid-century furniture.
Friday is considered the second busiest day, with traders focusing on clothing and vintage fashion. Walk towards the northernmost section of Portobello Road near the Westway flyover and you will find the Portobello Green Market, a collection of independent designers and vendors selling everything from vintage fashion to furniture and collectables. Mid-week trading consists primarily of fresh fruit and vegetables, and household goods.
Just a couple of tips for antique connoisseurs. If you’re interested in antique shopping, many indoor arcades in Notting Hill, London, open their doors as early as 8.00 am on Saturdays. The rarest items tend to sell quickly, so if you’re after something unique, try to arrive before noon.
The whole area completely transforms for the August Bank Holiday weekend every year as Notting Hill celebrates British-Caribbean heritage and Caribbean history with the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s largest street festival. In 2026, the Notting Hill Carnival dates are 29 August to 31 August. The 2026 event will kick off with the Panorama Steel Band Competition. Typically spanning the last Sunday and Monday of August, Sunday is traditionally called Family Day and is when you’ll find the children’s parade. Monday is considered Adults’ Day and the main event. Huge crowds with sound systems playing soca, calypso, and reggae music snake through the neighbourhood accompanied by floats and thousands of vibrantly costumed dancers and parade-goers along the Notting Hill Carnival parade route through Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park.
The scale of Notting Hill Carnival is hard to comprehend until you visit. Every year it sees over 1 million visitors over the course of the weekend, making it the largest street festival in the region and the second-largest in the world behind Rio de Janeiro’s famous carnival. In addition to the parade itself, there are usually sound systems playing Caribbean music throughout the streets and in the many nooks and crannies of Notting Hill. You’ll also find hundreds of food stalls hawking Caribbean food and cuisine.
Walk down Portobello Road and you’ll likely find tourists from around the world snapping photos in front of the iconic Notting Hill blue door, located at 280 Westbourne Park Road. The location served as the exterior of William Thacker’s (Hugh Grant) flat in the 1999 film Notting Hill. While the original movie-set door was auctioned off years ago, locals have replaced it with another that people still take photos with regularly. If you’re really into film history, stop by the Electric Cinema London, located at 191 Portobello Road. Opened on 27 February 1911, it’s one of the oldest operating cinemas in the UK. The Electric Cinema managed to stay open through two world wars and several periods of disrepair until a devoted group of film buffs restored the joint back to its majestic glory. While ticket prices are usually much higher than your average cinema, its plush seats with footstools and several rows of double beds definitely make for a memorable film-watching experience.
Heading down Portobello Road you’ll discover the Museum of Brands London, located at 111–117 Lancaster Road. Boasting over 12,000 pieces, the collection covers 150 years of shopping and consumer history. Head through their “Time Tunnel” and see how packaging, advertising, and branding have changed over the years as technology advanced and social trends evolved. Museum of Brands opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. If urban art is more your thing, head to Graffik Gallery Notting Hill. Situated at 284 Portobello Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, this renowned destination is West London’s number one urban art gallery and recognized Banksy specialist. Iconic street artists like Stik, The Dotmasters, and Mr. Brainwash all feature in their permanent displays. Graffik Gallery was incorporated in February 2016 and is a leading destination for spray-can-created artworks. Here, you’ll also find legendary names such as Alec Monopoly, Shepard Fairey (Obey), and D*Face with artwork ranging from originals to limited-edition prints. The gallery also offers professional graffiti classes for beginners and advanced painters who want to perfect their skills on a large-scale mural. The setup allows amateur painters to learn from experts and get snapping on the walls of their private outdoor patio aka the Graff-Tea garden.
The cuisine in Notting Hill has drastically changed over the past few years with an influx of world-class talent setting up restaurants. While stalwarts like The Ledbury restaurant London, which holds three Michelin stars, will always have you swearing by British fine-dining, new establishments are popping up that are just as good but more casual. One of the most talked about openings in recent years is Dishoom Permit Room. Located right at 186 Portobello Road, this all-day bar-café has a quintessential Bombay vibe and offers a wide variety of bar snacks, curated cocktails, and beers. If you want to try some of the best gastropubs in Notting Hill, you can check out The Pelican on 45 All Saints Road. It offers a variety of dishes that include gutsy British cooking with ingredients sourced from farmers. For Palestinian cuisine in London, head to Akub on 27 Uxbridge Street. Fans of pizza can also find Detroit-style deep dish pizza in London at Ria’s on 29 All Saints Road. The pizzas are fermented for 48 hours to create a light yet thick, chewy, and crispy texture.
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